Control device



E. L. BAUGH CONTROL DEVICE July 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1949 l .lL-l l l l l l l l l l l "I /N VE N TOR [75?57'7' Baas/f HIS flTTORNE Y5 FIG-Y- E. L. BAUGH CONTROL DEVICE July 24, 1951 Filed Jan. 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U Q s ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 1951 CONTROL DEVICE Everett L. Baugh, Dayton, Ohio, alaignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application January 22, 1949, Serial No. 72,184

10 Claims. (01. 123-179) This invention relates to an improved unitary control device operative to control both an electric circuit of an electric motor and a fluid circuit of a pump driven by the electric motor.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device capable of causing an electric motor to act solely as a driving means for a fluid pump positively connected thereto without rendering active, means associated with the electric motor for connecting it to an internal combustion engine for cranking purposes.

It is a further object of the present invention to render inoperative, the means which causes the electric motor to operate and be connected to an internal combustion engine for cranking purposes, while said motor is rendered operative solely to act as a power drive for a fluid pump constantly connected to the motor.

A still further object of the present invention is to establish an idle circuit of comparatively low resistance to fluid flow from the pump, driven by the electric motor during its operation as an engine cranking device, thereby reducing to a minimum the load placed upon the motor by said pump'while it performs its cranking operation.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a unitary structure having twd control devices, the first an electromagnetically actuated switch for rendering the motor active solely to drive the fluid pump connected thereto and at the same time render ineffective the means for connecting the electric motor with the engine, the second for establishing a low resistance fluid flow'circuit for the fluid delivered by the pump while the said switch is open and during any cranking operation of the electric motor thereby reducing pump load to a minimum during cranking, said low resistance fluid flow circuit being closed and the entire fluid delivery from the pump being directed to a fluid actuated work device in response to closing of said switch.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment oi the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view, at reduced size, of the unitary control device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same device.

Fig. 4 is a, diagrammatic view showing the electrical and fluid flow control circuits of an installation of the present device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the entire control z device taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing parts of the device in different operated positions, however.

In the conventional type of automobile the top may be raised or lowered as desired. Instead of actuating the top manually, the present automobile is equipped with power mechanism ior performing this work. One type of power mechanism consists of work cylinders or deviceswhich, when energized by the application of fluid under pressure, raises or lowers the top and when applied to the windows of the vehicle raises or lowers them. Inasmuch as the automobile is already equipped with an electric motor for cranking the engine, it is desirable, for economic reasons, to utilize said electric motor as a power means for driving a fluid pump which provides the necessary fluid under pressure for actuating the said work cylinders or devices. The fluid pump may be operatively connected to the electric motor or it may be built thereon so that it forms a part of the electric motor and is driven thereby whenever the electric motor is rendered active.

The electric motor. when energized and con-' nected to the engine for cranking purposes, performs a comparatively heavy duty and thus it is not only advisable but also desirable to relieve the motor of any additional load while it is cranking the engine. During the cranking operation, the control device of the present invention automatically arranges the fluid circuits so that the fluid delivered by the pump under pressure is diverted from the work devices and directed into a circuit oi little or no resistance. thereby permitting, the pump idly to circulate fluid between it and the fluid reservoir and consequently adds no appreciable load upon the electric motor.

The present device is operative also to render the starting motor active without causing the motor to be operatively connected to the engine. Under these circumstances the electric motor operates solely as a power drive for the pump and the means for connecting the motor with the engine is rendered completely inoperative. At the same time the present device automatically arranges the fluid circuits so that the diverting circuit, mentioned in the aforegoing paragraph, is completely eliminated and all of the fluid delivered under pressure by the pump is directed to the work device selected by the operator to perform its function either to raise or lower the top or one of the windows or the vehicle.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 20 designates any suitable fluid supply reservoir secured to any suitably part of the vehicle by a ring clamp 2|. The upper, open end of the reservoir is rigidly secured between the supporting clamp 2| and a cover plate 22 which is perforated to coincide and connect with various ports in the control device mounted upon said cover plate. Fig. 5 shows the base plate 23 of the control device, said base plate having a hole 24 for receiving a pipe 25 represented by the dot dash line 25 in the diagrammatic Fig. 4, which pipe projects downwardly into the reservoir so that it may withdraw fluid therefrom under the influence of the pump 26 to which one end of the pipe 25 is connected. The control device consists of a housing 30 secured to the cover plate 22 of the reservoir by screws 3|. Housing 36 has a through passage 32, the end of said passage, terminating in the upper portion of the housing 30, being recessed as at 33, the lower end of said passage, terminating in the surface of the housing engaging the reservoir, being recessed as at 34. Both these recesses 33 and 34 form shoulders within the housing, the annular shoulder 35 formed by the recess 34 providing a seat for the control valve 36 which is slidable in the throughpassage 32. An enlarged annular head 31 at one end of the valve 36 is adapted to rest upon the shoulder or seat 35 to close the passage 32, the opposite end of the control valve 36 extending beyond the bottom of the recess 33 when the head 31 engages its annular seat 35 as shown in Fig. 6. An annular groove 38 in the outer peripheral surface of the control valve 36 provides an annular chamber in the passage 32 adjacent the end thereof closed by the head 31 of said control valve 36. A spring 39, interposed between the control valve 36 and an abutment plate 40 which forms the mounting flange of a pipe 4|, yieldably maintains the control valve 36 in engagement with the annular shoulder or seat 35 to close the passage 32 or more particularly to close the annular space within passage 32 formed by the annular groove 38.

Housing 36 also has-a main fluid flow passage angularly arranged relatively to the through passage 32 but communicating therewith as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The outer end of passage 45, termed the intake port 46, is threaded to receive a pipe represented by the dot and dash line 41 in the diagrammatic Fig. 4, which pipe is also connected to the fluid discharge port of the pump 26. I

As shown in Fig. 5 the main fluid passage 45 not only has an intake port 46 into which fluid is introduced by pipe 41, but it also has a fluid discharge port 48 adapted to receive a pipe represented by the dot and dash line 49 in the diagrammatic Fig. 4 which pipe is connected to the work device I50 shown in said Fig. 4. For purposes of description this work device may be a piston containing cylinder which is operatively connected with the top of the vehicle and which when energized raises the top and places it in position and which, when deenergized, actuates and returns the top to its lowered position.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that the intake port 46 and discharge port 48 are in constant communication through the main fluid passage 45.

The Figs. 6 and 7 clearly show that the main fluid passage 45 of the device has a third fluid passage 50 communicating with and leading therefrom. In this passage pipe 5| is fitted, said pipe leading into the reservoir 20. A check valve 55, slidably supported within the main passage 45, is yieldably urged by a spring 56 to cover and close the port 50 as shown in Fig. 6 so that communication between-main fluid passage 45 and the discharge pipe 5| leading to the reservoir is cut off. This check valve 55 has an orifice 51 providing communication between the pressure side of the valve, which is in that portion of the passage 45 adjacent the inlet port 46, and the opposite side of the valve which is on the side thereof adjacent the point. of communication between the passage 45 and the end to end passage 32 or more particularly the annular space in said passage 32 formed by the annular groove 38 in the control valve 36.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the check valve 55 is at all times subject to the fluid pressure entering the main fluid passage 45. Under certain conditions this fluid pressure is inefiective to move the valve and under other conditions said fluid pressure actuates the valve 55 against the efiect of its spring 56 to uncover the discharge port 50 and connect it with the main fluid passage 45. When the elements of the device are relatively positioned as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that the control valve 36 closes the end to end passage 32, or more specifically the annular space formed in said passage by the annular groove 36 in said control valve and with which passage 45 communicates, fluid pressure on opposite sides of the check valve 55 is balanced or equalized thereby rendering said valve immovable by fluid pressure. However, when the control valve 36 is actuated so that its head portion 31 is moved from engagement with the annular valve seat 35 as shown in Fig. '7, the annular space formed by the annular groove 38 in the control valve is brought into communication with the recessed portion 34 of said end to end passage. Now the equalization of the fluid pressure on each side of the check valve is destroyed for fluid may pass through the orifice 51 of valve 55 thence into the passage 32 and past the valvehead 31 to be exhausted into the reservoir. This renders the fluid pressure, introduced through inlet port 46 into the main fluid passage 45 to become efiective to actuate the check valve 55 against the effect of its spring 56 and move it to uncover the outlet port 50 as shown in Fig. 7.

Thus when the check valve 55 is in the position as shown in Fig. 6 in which it shuts oif communication between the main fluid passage 45 and the discharge port 50, the fluid delivered through inlet port 46 into the main fluid passage 45 is directed through the outlet port 48 and pipe 49 connected thereto to the work device I50 so that said work device may perform its function of actuating the top. However, when said check valve 55 is in the position as shown in Fig. 7 in response to the actuation of the control valve 36 to open the end to end passage 32, then fluid under pressure directed into the main passage 45 through the inlet port 46 may pass through the outlet port 50 and its connected pipe 5| into the reservoir thus establishing a circuit of considerably lesser resistance than the circuit including the work device and consequently the fluid flow, taking the path of least resistance, will pass from the main fluid passage 45 through the outlet port 50 and will not pass through the outlet port 48 and connected pipe 49 to the pressure actuated work device I50. Under the latter condition the fluid pump 26, when rotated, will idly circulate fluid, drawing it from the reservoir 20 through pipe 25 into the pump and ejecting the fluid under said pressure from said pump through pipe 41 and inlet pipe 46 into the main fluid passage 45 from whence the fluid passes 5, throughtheportleandplpell backintothe reservoir performing no work and thus causing -the pump to ofler little or no additional load to the electric motor operatively connected thereto and driving it.

The control device 01 the present invention not only consists oi mechanism for adjusting fluid flow circuits, but it also consists of an electric switch for controlling an electric circuit.

This comprises a cover or container I attached to the housing II by clamping element ll. Within this container there is provided a solenoid switch consisting of a solenoid magnet 02 and a movable core I. In the present construction. this movable core II is shown to be slidably carried upon a stud 84 secured in the container I.

9. spring II being interposed between the container and core and yieldably'urging the core it into the unattracted position as shown in-Fig. '1. In this position the abutment disc 05. secured ad- Jacent the core it, engages and rests upon the bottom of the recess 33 in the housing ll. Two diametrically opposite stationary contacts ll and '1 are insulatingly supported on a container 8! and each has an attachment stud extending outside the container. The movable core I of the solenoid magnet has a bridging contact in the form of a ring 6! insulatingly and slidably supported thereon this contact assembly being yieldably urged into engagement with an annular shoulder on the core by a spring Ill interposed between said movable contact assembly and the abutment washer I.

When the solenoid magnet I2 is energized. the core 83 is magnetically attracted and movable longitudinally of the mounting stud 8| against the eflfect of spring 65 and thus brings the bridging contact I9 into engagement with the stationary contacts 8! and I to complete a circuit from one to the other. This position of the switch is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. When the electromagnet i2 is deenergized the spring 65 urges into and maintains the shiftable core 83 in the position as shown in Fig. "l, in which the movable contact element 9 is out of engagement with the respective stationary contacts 61 and C8 and the abutment washer is on said core rests upon the shoulder of the recess 33.

As shown in Fig. 6, when the electromagnet Iii is energized, the magnet core 63 is in its attracted position in which contacts 61 and G8 are engaged by contact 59 and the circuit is closed. Now the control valve 36 is completely free of any influence excepting that of spring 39 which urges said control valve into a position in which its head portion 11 is seated upon the annular shoulder or valve seat 35 to close the end to end passage 32 and prevent any discharge of fluid therefrom. However, when the magnet core 53 is in the position as shown in Fig. 7, due to deenergization of the elecromagnet 62. contacts 61 and 68 are disengaged from the movable contact is, then under the influence of spring 55 which is stronger than the spring 35. the core 63, by engaging the control valve Ii, will actuate said valve into the position as shown in Fig. 'i' in which the head portion 31 of the control valve is moved oif its seat 35 and communication is established between the end to end passage 32 and the reservoir through the recess 34 in the housing which communicates with said reservoir either through a pipe I or any other suitable duct in the housing leading to said reservoir.

assault closes its electrical circuit all fluid directed under. pressure from the pump 26 to the main fluid passage 45 of the device through the inlet port 48' must flow to the work device Iil via the outlet port ll inasmuch as outlet port ii is maintained closed by the check valve 55. On the other hand, when the electromagnet switch is deeperglzed and said switch maintains its circuit open. then the control valve 36 of the device is actuated to permit fluid entering the main fluid passage 45 to move and actuate the check valve 55 so that it uncovers the outlet port 5., thereby causing the flow of fluid to be diverted from the outlet port 48 and its connected work device 5|, into the circuit oi lesser which in-- cludes the outlet port ill and its connected pipe II leading to the fluid reservoir ll.

Fig. 4 is the diagrammatic view which illustrates the electrical and fluid circuits. It will be seen that the fluid pump 26 is operatively connected with the electric motor II. This electric motor II has shiitable drive mechanism 8! which is actuated by electromagnetic mechanism 82 which, when energized, is operative to connect the electric motor with the fly wheel of the engine represented by numeral [3. When it is desired to actuate the motor II for engine cranking purposes, the control switch 84 is closed, thereby permitting current from the storage battery 85 to flow through the control switch 84 and the electromagnetic shifting mechanism 82 to the motor 80 rendering said motor operative and at the same time causing the electromagnetic shifting mechanism to move its driving mechanism Ii into operative engagement with the engine fly wheel 83 and thus crank the engine. During this cranking operation it will be seen that the electromagnetic switch of the control device is deenergized and consequently as shown in Fig. 7 the main fluid passage 45 will have two outlet ports, one numbered ll leading to the work device I50 and discharge outlet 50 leading to the fluid reservoir. Inasmuch as the fluid under pressure in passage Iii will follow the path of least resistance it will enter outlet port El pass through pipe 5| to the reservoir from where the pump 26. now being driven by the motor while cranking the engine, will circulate the fluid through this low resistance circuit without adding any appreciable load to the electric motor as it cranks the engine.

When it is desired to raise or lower the top, the control switch 88 is closed completing a circuit from the storage battery through the solenoid magnet 52 and causes it to be energized resulting in an attraction of the core 63 and moving it against the effect of spring 65 into the position as shown in Fig. 6. Now, that the bridg-' ing element 69 engages the stationary contacts 61 and 86 a circuit from the storage battery through the electromagnet switch, contacts 61, 6! and S5 and through the motor only is established causing said motor to rotate. It will be.

noted that by closin the switch 88 the drive shifting mechanism 82 will not be rendered! operative and thus the motor drive II will remain in neutral position or in a position disconnected from the engine 83 so that rotation of the electric motor to will not crank the engine, but merely drive the fluid pump 26. In fact when switch BI is closed to render the motor 80 efiectivc only as a pump driver, the electromagnetic shifting mechanism 81 is rendered com- From the aforegoing it may be seen that when pletely ineifective even though switch 8! is 7 closed at this time. This therefore eliminates the possibility of forcing the turning gearing into engagement with the engine while the motor 80 is active as a pump driver. With the control device of the present invention in the position as shown in Fig. 6 under which conditions the motor 80 merely acts to drive the pump 26, the

control valve 36 of the device operates to prevent shifting of the check valve by fluid pressure and thus only one exit for the fluid passage 45 is provided, that one bein the outlet port 48 which connects via pipe 49 with the work device I50.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the present invention provides a unitary control de-- vice in which a single housing carries both the electrical circuit control mechanism and the fluid flow control mechanism, the fluid flow control mechanism being under the direct control of the electrical circuit controllingmechanism whereby, when the electric motor, which drives the fluid pump, is rendered operative to crank the engine, the control device of the present invention will adjust the fluid passages therein so that all fluid under pressure is'diverted from the work device and idly circulated by the pump thereby reducing to a minimum any load that might be added. to the motor by the operative connection of the pump therewith, said control device being operative automatically to readjust the fluid flow control circuits and cause the motor to operate merely as a pump driving unit wherebyall fluid pressure delivered by the pump is directed to the work device, the diverting fluid flow previously established being entirely eliminated during this function.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claim which follow.

'What is claimed is as follows:

1. A unitary control device for electrical and fluid flow circuits comprising in combination, a housing; a normally open electromagnetically actuated switch on said housing, said switch having cooperating stationary and movable contact elements; a main fluid passage in the housing, having an inlet port to which a source of fluid under pressure is connectible and an outlet port to which a fluid actuated work device is adapted to be connected, said fluid passage providing a constant communication between said source of fluid pressure and the work device; a branch passage leading from the main passage into a fluid reservoir; a check valve movable in the main passage and yieldably urged to close said branch passage, said check valve having an orifice leading from one side of the check valve to the other; a fluid leak passage communicating with the main passage on the side of the check valve opposite the inlet port thereof; and a control valve in the leak passage, yieldably urged to close said passage and prevent actuation of the check valve by fluid pressure to open the branch passage while the contacts of the switch are engaged, said control valve being engaged and actuated by the movable a solenoid magnet, the movable core of which supports the movable contact; a spring engaging the core and urging it yieldably to maintain the movable contact out of engagement withthe sta tionary contacts; a control valve slidable in the through passage; a spring, weaker than the spring engaging the core, operative yieldably to urge the control valve into through passage closing position when the said core is moved into contact engaging position upon energization of the solenoid magnet, said core engaging and actuating the control valve into through passage opening position when the solenoid magnet is deenergized and the movable contact is actuated to disengage the stationary contacts by the spring in the switch; three ports in the main passage, one connectible to a source of fluid under pressure, one with a fluid pressure actuated work device and the third with a fluid reservoir; and a spring loaded check valve in said main passage operative to close the third port when the control valve closes the through passage and to open the third port when said control valve opens said through passage.

3. A control apparatus adapted to be used in combination with an electric motor connected to a fluid pressure pump which is operative to deliver fluid, under pressure, from a fluid supply to a work device; means operative to render the electric motor active and connect it with an internal combustion engine for cranking purposes; a unitary device having both electric and fluid flow control mechanisms, the fluid flow control mechanism normally establishing a fluid circuit through which the pump may idly and with a minimum resistance circulate fluid between it and the fluid supply when said pump is actuated by the electric motor during the cranking operation; and means in the unitary device, operative to actuate both the electric and the fluid flow control mechanism concurrently to disestablish the normal, idle fluid circuit between the pump and fluid supply and thereby render eifective the circuit to the work device, and to render the electric motor active without causing the motor and engine connecting means operative.

4. A control apparatus adapted to be used in combination with an electric motor driving a pump to draw fluid from a source of supply and deliver it, under pressure, to a work device; control means operative to render the electric motor active and connect it with an engine for cranking purposes; a unitary control device consisting of a housing providing, a normally open electric switch and fluid flow conduits connected respectively with the pump, the work device and the fluid supply, said housing having valves normally maintaining said conduits open so that the pump, when actuated by the motor during the cranking operation, idly circulates the fluid between the pump and fluid supply thereby reducing the fluid pressure to render it ineffective to actuate the work device; and means in the unitary control device, energizable to close the electric switch therein for rendering the electric motor active without causing it to be connected to the engine and for closing one conduit to render the fluid idling circuit from the pump inoperative whereby the pump may deliver fluid to the work device at sufficient pressure to actuate it.

5. A control apparatus adapted to be used in combination with an electric motor, comprising two control devices, one operative to render the motor active and to connect the motor with an engine for cranking purposes, the other operative to render the motor active without connecting it with the engine; a pump driven by the motor, said pump being operative to deliver fluid from a source or fluid supply to a fluid actuated work device; a unitary control mechanism consisting of the said other control device and normally open. valved passages connecting the pump outlet port with the fluid supply and with the work device when the said one control device is operative for engine cranking purposes, whereby fluid delivered by the pump during the cranking operation is shunted from the work device to the source of fluid with arminimum resistance to its'flow, said unitary control mechanism having means which, when energized concurrently renders said other control device operative and eifects actuation of the valves to discontinue the shunting of the fluid delivered by the pump, thus directing all fluid to the work device for actuating it.

6. A control apparatus adapted to be used in combination with an electric motor, comprising two control devices, one operative to render the motor active and connect it with an engine for cranking purposes, the other to render the motor active without connecting it with the the engine; a pump constantly connected with the motor and driven thereby to deliver fluid from a source of supply to a work device; a-unitary control mechanism consisting of the said other control device and valved passages connecting the pump with the fluid supply and with the work device, said valved passages being maintained open by said other control device while in its inoperative position whereby fluid delivered by the pump during engine cranking operations of the motor, will be shunted from the work device to the fluid supply to reduce the pump load upon the motor while cranking the engine, said unitary control mechanism having means operative, when energized, to render said other control device operative; and meansin said mechanism, rendered effective by the operation of said other control device, to actuate a valve in the mechanism which discontinues the said shunt circuit of the fluid and thereby'causes all fluid delivered by the pump to be directed to the work device at full pressure.

7. A mechanism as defined in claim 6, in which, however, the control device, which is operative to render the electric motor active without connecting said motor with the engine, when operated.

concurrently renders inoperative the control device, normally operative to render the motor active and connect it with an engine for cranking purposes.

being operative to deliver fluid from a fluid res-' ervoir to a work device; of two control devices, the first operative to render the electric motor active and connect it with an engine for starting pur' poses, the second operative to render the electric motor active without connecting it with the engine, the operation of one device rendering the other device inoperative; a housing embodying the second control device and having fluid flow passages completing fluid circuits between the pump outlet port and the reservoir and work device; fluid flow control valves in said passages, one valve being engaged and held in its open position by the said second control device when it. is in its inoperative position whereby the fluid flow passages in the housing are open and thereby fluid delivered by the pump is shunted past the work device and into the reservoir in response to pump operation during engine starting; and resilient means rendered eflective by the operation of the second control device to close the valve engaged by said second device whereby the shunting of the fluid delivered by the pump is discontinued and all fluid directed to the work device to actuate it.

10. A control apparatus for an electric motor having a fluid pump connected thereto and operative by the motor to deliver fluid from a reservoir to a work device; of two separate control devices, the first, an electromagnetically actuated means for rendering the electric motor active and connecting it to an engine for starting purposes, the second an electromagneticaily actuated switch for rendering the electric motor active without connecting it with the engine, the operation of one control device rendering the other inoperative concurrently; a unitary structure embodying the second control device and also means actuated by said second control device while inoperative for establishing a low resistance fluid flow circuit for the fluid delivered 8. Ajcontrol apparatus for an electric motor and a fluid pump constantly driven thereby, said pump heing operative to deliver fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fluid pressure actuated work device; of two control devices, the flrst operative to render the electric motor active and connect it with an engine for cranking purposes, the second device being operative to render the motor active without connecting it with the engine and at the same time render the flrst device inoperative; a unitary control mechanism embodying the second control device and having valved passages connecting the pump fluid discharge port with the reservoir and with the work device, said valved passages being maintained open by said second control device while it is in its inoperative position whereby fluid delivered by the pump during the engine cranking operation of the motor. is shunted past the work device to the reservoir. said unitary control mechanism embodying electromagnetic means energizable to render the seeby the pump during an engine starting operation by the motor, whereby the pump load on the motor is reduced to a minimum; and means in "kthe unitary structure, operative in response to operation of said second controldevice, for disestablishing said low resistance fluid flow circuit whereby full fluid flow from the pump is directed to the work device for actuating it.

EVERETT L. BAUGH.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,030,896 Havill Feb. 18, 1936 2,031,062 Peabody et a1 Feb. 18, 1936 2,259,264 Parsons Oct. 1-4, 1941 2,301,576 Parsons Nov. 10, 1942 2,311,864 Parsons Feb. 23, 1943 2,399,294 Ray Apr. 30. 1948 

